Editor’s Note: Overdraft Apps provides detailed product reviews and recommendations based upon extensive research and our own hands-on testing. We may earn a referral fee when you sign up for or purchase products mentioned in this article.
Mitchel holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from The Goizeta School of Business at Emory University and a Masters of Business Administration from The Haas School of Business at The University of California.
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Updated August 2026.
How much is Bank of America’s overdraft fee? Bank of America charges a $10 Overdraft Item Fee each time it pays a transaction that overdraws your account, capped at two fees per day ($20 max). There is no fee if the item is $1 or less, or if you are overdrawn by $1 or less. NSF fees are $0. Everyday debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals are declined when funds are short. Recurring debit card charges can still overdraw the account and trigger the $10 fee.
| Bank of America overdraft, at a glance | What it means |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | $10 per item |
| Daily limit | Up to 2 overdraft fees per day ($20 total) |
| No-fee cushion | No fee if the item is $1 or less, or if you are overdrawn by $1 or less |
| NSF / returned item fee | $0 |
| ATM and everyday debit | Declined when funds are short, no Bank of America fee |
| Recurring debit card charges | Can overdraw the account and trigger the $10 fee |
| Extended overdraft fee | $0 (eliminated in 2017) |
| Balance Connect (linked deposit) | $0 transfer fee from a linked Bank of America savings or checking account |
| SafeBalance Banking | $0 overdraft fees; Decline All is the default setting |
Fees verified August 23, 2026 from Bank of America’s Advantage Plus Banking Clarity Statement (current as of 08/2026) and its Personal Schedule of Fees (effective August 7, 2026).
How much does a Bank of America overdraft cost?
If Bank of America pays a check, ACH payment, or other electronic item that overdraws your account, you pay $10. The bank caps this at two fees a day, so the most in Overdraft Item Fees for one day is $20. Bank of America will not charge the fee if the item is $1 or less, or if the payment leaves you overdrawn by $1 or less.
Everyday debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals are turned down when you do not have enough money, so those do not create an overdraft fee. Recurring debit card charges, like a subscription or gym membership, are different. Those can overdraw the account and trigger the $10 fee.
Two ways to handle a low balance
Bank of America offers a Standard setting, where it may pay checks and other eligible items into overdraft, and a Decline All setting, where those items are returned unpaid with no Bank of America fee. Advantage SafeBalance Banking uses Decline All by default and has no Overdraft Item Fees.
The no-overdraft-fee option: SafeBalance
Advantage SafeBalance Banking has no overdraft fees. Transactions that would overdraw the account are declined or returned instead. It does not include check writing.
How to avoid a Bank of America overdraft fee
- Switch to Decline All if you would rather have a payment returned than pay $10.
- Set low-balance alerts in the Bank of America app.
- Link a Bank of America savings or checking account through Balance Connect. Those transfers are free. A linked credit card or line of credit can also cover a shortfall, but that transfer works like a cash advance and starts accruing interest.
- Consider SafeBalance if you want overdraft fees off the table.
- Watch recurring debit charges. Everyday debit and ATM declines are free at Bank of America, but recurring debit charges can still overdraw you and cost $10.
- Premier Rewards members: Account owners in the Premier tier can get a waiver of Overdraft Item Fees under Bank of America’s current schedule.
Short before payday? If the alternative is stacking bank fees, a small advance can be cheaper when you qualify and repay on time.
See how to borrow $50 instantly, or compare every option side by side below.
How Bank of America compares to other banks
Bankrate’s 2025 Checking Account and ATM Fee Study puts the average bank overdraft fee at $26.77. Bank of America’s $10 fee runs well below that average, with a two-fee daily cap.
| Bank | Overdraft fee | Max per day |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of America | $10 | 2 |
| Average US bank (Bankrate 2025) | $26.77 | Varies |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | $20 | 1 |
| Chase | $34 | 3 |
Source: Bankrate 2025 Checking Account and ATM Fee Study, published September 10, 2025, https://www.bankrate.com/press-releases/atm-fees-hit-record-high-for-third-consecutive-year/
See the full overdraft fees by bank comparison.
Compare cash advance apps that can cover a shortfall. If you keep landing in overdraft, an app that fronts you a small amount until payday may cost less than repeat bank fees.
Bank of America overdraft FAQ
How much is the Bank of America overdraft fee?
$10 per paid item, capped at two fees ($20) per day. No fee if the item is $1 or less, or if you are overdrawn by $1 or less.
Does Bank of America still charge an NSF fee?
No. Declined or returned items do not cost a Bank of America fee. The payee may still charge their own fee.
Can a debit card purchase overdraw a Bank of America account?
Everyday debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals cannot. Bank of America turns those down when you do not have enough money. Recurring debit card charges, like a subscription or gym membership, can overdraw your account and trigger the $10 Overdraft Item Fee.
Is there a Bank of America account with no overdraft fees at all?
Yes. Advantage SafeBalance Banking has no Overdraft Item Fees. Transactions that would overdraw the account are declined or returned instead.
Does Bank of America charge extra fees the longer an account stays negative?
No. The extended overdrawn balance charge was eliminated in 2017. It is $0 on the current schedule.
How many overdraft fees can Bank of America charge in one day?
A maximum of two, for a total of $20 per day.
Mitchel holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from The Goizeta School of Business at Emory University and a Masters of Business Administration from The Haas School of Business at The University of California.
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